How to claim missing COVID stimulus payment and tax refund after living abroad?

As someone who's helped many expats with similar issues, I can tell you there are a few ways to track down and claim your missing COVID stimulus payments and tax refund. First, check your tax transcript online through the IRS website. This will show if the payments were issued, when, and how (direct deposit or check). If they show as issued but you never received them, you'll need to request a payment trace. For the COVID stimulus specifically, you may need to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your most recent tax return if you were eligible but never received the payments. For the regular tax refund, you'd request a payment trace by calling the IRS or filing Form 3911 (Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund). Since you're moving back to the US soon, make sure the IRS has your updated address to avoid further complications. You can change your address by filing Form 8822 or updating it on your next tax return.

I was in a similar situation last year trying to track down missing payments. I tried calling the IRS numerous times but kept hitting dead ends until I found this AI service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that really helped me figure out my situation. The tool analyzed my tax documents and notices about the interest payments, then explained exactly what was happening with my refund and which forms I needed to submit. It was way more helpful than the generic advice I found online since it specifically addressed my situation as an expat dealing with missing stimulus payments. It saved me hours of research and frustration trying to figure out the right procedures. They even provided templates for the letters I needed to send to the IRS to resolve my issue.

I just have to follow up about taxr.ai that someone mentioned earlier. I was initially worried about uploading my documents, but I finally gave it a try last week after struggling for months with my missing stimulus payment situation. The tool analyzed my IRS notices showing interest accrual and immediately identified that my payment had been issued but was returned to the IRS because of my outdated address. It then generated step-by-step instructions for filing a payment trace and requesting reissuance, even creating a template letter specific to my situation as an expat. Just got confirmation yesterday that my payment is being reprocessed! Wish I'd found this sooner instead of spinning my wheels trying to get through to someone at the IRS.

If you're having trouble reaching the IRS (and who isn't these days), I'd recommend trying Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent WEEKS trying to get through about my missing stimulus payment, but kept getting disconnected or stuck on hold forever. Claimyr basically holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you when an actual agent is on the line. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was super frustrated after multiple failed attempts to reach someone, but this finally got me through to an agent who was able to trace my missing payment and get it reissued. For expats especially, when you're dealing with time zone differences, not having to sit on hold for hours is a game-changer.

I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment yesterday, I decided to try it myself since I've been trying to reach the IRS about a similar issue for weeks. Honestly, I'm shocked at how well it worked. I was expecting to waste money on something useless, but I actually got through to a real IRS agent in about 45 minutes (while I was running errands, not sitting by my phone). The agent was able to confirm my COVID stimulus was issued but returned due to an address issue, and they started the reissue process right away. I still spent the same time "in line" as everyone else, but didn't have to waste hours listening to the hold music. For anyone dealing with these missing payment issues, especially from abroad with time zone challenges, it's actually worth considering.

Another option worth considering is to contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service. They're designed to help when you've tried normal IRS channels without success. Since you've been waiting for quite a while and keep getting interest notifications without the actual payment, you might qualify for their assistance. You can find your local office here: https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/ I used them last year when I had issues with my stimulus payment after moving back from Canada, and they were able to help resolve it within about 2 months.

Have you checked if you can see your refund status through the "Where's My Refund" tool on the IRS website? Sometimes that shows if a check was issued and returned. Also, when you filed the streamlined returns, did you include direct deposit information?